Posts Tagged ‘J&K’
Civilian Protests in J&K: [A]Part of Struggles in Rest of India?
Struggles for democracy and struggles of democracy may be different but are struggles nonetheless.
The civilian protests in the Kashmir region of the state of Jammu and Kashmir have been accompanied by a proliferation of literature on the intra-national dimension of the dispute, especially the issue of Human Rights. If you happen to read the columns by likes of Pankaj Mishra or Basharat Peer it is likely that your sympathies will lie with the people of Kashmir. Many others are of the opinion that the violent protests should stop to allow the Government to discuss the popular grievances. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has agreed that New Delhi is open to discussing the autonomy issue. Amendment of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is also under consideration. For the protestors, Prime Minister Singh’s assurance is another addition to similar pledges in the past. The Kashmiri youth demand ‘aazadi’ and refuse to be pacified by piecemeal political and economic packages. The Government fears that accepting the demands of the protestors at this juncture would legitimize violent protests as an instrument of popular pressure. Click to continue…
Discussing J&K
The street protests in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) are de javu for many locals. It is claimed that a new generation of youth in the state are turning to confrontational tactics as the state continues to define security in strictly militaristic terms. For the Indian side peace in J&K implies ensuring that separatists and militants supported by Pakistan are reined in and ‘democratic’ elections held every five years. The slogans of ‘aazadi’ echoing through the Kashmir Valley are dismissed as the voice of few misguided youth and miscreants supported by ‘foreign’ forces.
Limitations of the vocabulary of western political theory for post-colonial societies have created a dilemma for India and Pakistan. ‘Aazadi’ is interpreted as territorial sovereignty and arguments highlighting the improbability of it for J&K are promptly presented by the Indian side. Pakistan likewise claims to be supporting the Kashmiris in their struggle for self-determination. Looking at the concept of ‘aazadi’ from the perspective of J&K can connote a variety of political arrangements ranging from responsive governance and responsible administration to different degrees of devolution of political authority. The relation between the Indian Federation and its constituent units continues to remain problematic in other areas of the country as well. In the case of J&K, the struggle between the Federation and the units is subsumed in the master narrative constructed in 1947.
Continue Reading
Impressions from the Kashmir Protests
The recent tensions in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir have not surprised many. The nation-wide shut down on July 5th attracted more attention than curfew restrictions in parts of the Kashmir valley. However, the recent protest demonstrations do not strictly fall in the segment of terrorism related issues inflicting the state since the past two decades. A section of the Indian population dissatisfied with the Government is participating in protest demonstrations. At least 11 people have been killed in the Kashmir Valley in firing by security forces on stone-pelting mobs protesting against alleged human rights violations.
[Photo Courtesy: The Hindu]
UPDATE: With four civilians killed in the past 24 hours and 70 others injured as the police opened fire to quell demonstrations in different parts of Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday sought the Army’s help in tamping down mass protests that have not abated despite several days of curfew.
The Government of India is referring to it as a law and order problem prompted by separatists. The incident and follow up official reaction indicates that the Government’s priorities in the state are more security oriented than conditioned by requirements of ensuring stability. Maintenance of law and order and prevalence of armed forces can ensure security. Good governance and winning the ‘hearts and minds’ of the local population warrants stability.
Cellphones, Cricket, Apples….Security Concerns Rule Everything in J&K
India has gained mastery over chaotic diplomacy in the domestic and international arenas. The latest demonstration of this mastery came just days after P.M. Singh visited Jammu and Kashmir to win the hearts and minds of the people in the State. P.M. Singh inaugurated a train service linking Kashmir with Srinagar and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi addressed a public rally without bullet-proof screens. The gestures were aimed at highlighting the return of normalcy to the terror ridden J&K. Even before the people of the State could react to the new initiatives, the Home Ministry announced the decision to ban pre-paid cellular phones in J&K. The reasons are obvious: security concerns, terrorists could misuse these connections. The ban applies only to pre-paid connections because the validation process for securing such a connection is much easier than the post-paid ones. Now 39 lakh people with pre-paid cellular connections will have to look for alternative means of connecting across the state. Moreover, by the classic stroke of a pen, 10,000 telephone operators most of whom are young Kashmiri youth will loose their jobs. Connectivity and economic development were the dominant themes of P.M. Singh’s recent visit to J&K. Could there be a better way to further alienate the people of J&K? Click to continue…
The Son of a Militant is Not Necessarily a Militant
After reading and writing gloomy analysis on the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the official apathy towards it, I came across something different this morning. For a change the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has acted sensibly and C.M. Omar Abdullah has adopted a progressive stand. No, this is not about AFSPA. It’s about a common Kashmiri, Basharat Bashir Baba’s dream. The only difference is that Bashir Baba’s father was involved in militant activities. Omar Abdullah’s gesture has prevented one more Kashmiri youth from joining the gang of militants.
In a report carried by The Statesman, Bashir Baba’s ordeal and this rare respite was narrated. The teenaged footballer was one of three selected from a group of 300 for professional exposure and training in Spain and Brazil (where the game is played at a very high level) under a programme run by an Argentine coach, Juan Marcos Troia. He had waited for over a year for a passport to be issued to him, even moved the High Court against his being denied travel documents because his father had been involved in militant activity, but no redress came his way. But when Omar’s attention was drawn to a media report on Basharat’s being blocked, he dribbled with the craft of a Ronaldo and hit the net with the power of a Rooney. Taking the bold line that a son could not be made to suffer for what his father had done, he directed the red-tape be cut and the passport delivered pronto.
Though Bashir Baba is on his way to pursue his dreams the common practice of denying passports to relatives of suspects and militants in J&K needs to be re-considered. The Government can’t remain can active stimulus in swelling the militant ranks through supporting practices.
Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment Ordinance: A Change in Nomenclature Only
The Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Ordinance 2009 was approved by Pakistan’s Federal Cabinet last week. The Ordinance is directed towards granting internal political autonomy to the Northern Areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Ordinance, however, falls short of local demands and is only a change in nomenclature rather than genuine political reforms. Â
The 1949 ceasefire line resulted in the division of J&K with Pakistan gaining control over some portion of the disputed territory. Pakistan administered region of J&K was subsequently divided in 1970 into two administrative zones: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Federally Administered Northern Regions. AJK is constitutionally not a part of Pakistan and is governed by an elected President, Prime Minister and Legislature. Northern Areas are under the direct control of Islamabad and is ruled through a Northern Area Council headed by Pakistan’s Minister for Kashmir Affairs. Click to continue…
Understanding J&K Dispute: People of Undivided J&K
The third level is the most vital, though widely ignored aspect of the J&K problem; the intra-regional relations within the undivided J&K territory. The socio-cultural and ethnic commonalities of the region override the political divisions enforced by drawing the LOC and creating untenable sub- divisions within each side. Strong forces of affinity and aversion exist within the various sub-regions of India administered J&K and Pakistan controlled AJK and Northern Areas making a simple conflict resolution approach unsustainable for the region. None of the five regions (Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, AJK, Northern Areas) of J&K have clearly defined mandate in terms of joining India or Pakistan or opting for complete independence. These intra-regional linkages further complicate any possibility of a consensual resolution. Click to continue…
Understanding J&K Dispute: Government of Pakistan and People of AJK and Norther Areas
The intra-national dimension of the J&K dispute also involves strained relations between the inhabitants of the Pakistan administered regions of J&K and the Federal Government of Pakistan. The 1949 ceasefire line resulted in the division of J&K with Pakistan gaining control over some portion of the disputed territory. Pakistan administered region of J&K was subsequently divided in 1970 into two administrative zones: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Federally Administered Northern Regions. AJK is constitutionally not a part of Pakistan and is governed by an elected President, Prime Minister and Legislature. Northern Areas are under the direct control of Islamabad and is ruled through a Northern Area Council headed by Pakistan’s Minister for Kashmir Affairs. Though Pakistan claims to be supporting the cause of self-determination in India administered regions of J&K, the degree of autonomy and kind of democratic freedoms granted to the populations of AJK and Northern Areas are highly controversial and have caused widespread unrest in the region. Click to continue…
Understanding the J&K Dispute: Government of India and People of J&K
At the second level J&K dispute refers to the relations between the Indian administered regions of J&K and the Government of India. The J&K territory east of the Line of Control (LOC) is formally a part of the Indian Union and west of the LOC is a part of Pakistan. Escaping popular attention and media limelight, the people of J&K have demanded redressal for their numerous grievances against the political leadership of the State and Government of India (GOI).
Â
Understanding the J&K Dispute : Inter-State Dimension
Jammu and Kashmir, referred to as one of the most dangerous places on earth, is embroiled in one of the most misunderstood conflicts of modern times. The general perception is that J&K as a territorial conflict is rooted in religious sentiments between India and Pakistan. This inter-state aspect highlights merely one dimension of the more complex intertwined dyads of a deeper conflict. This four part analysis of the J&K conflict elaborates on the primary dimensions of the conflict: i) inter-state aspect involving the states of India and Pakistan; ii) intra-national dimension involving grievances of the people in the India administered regions of J&K towards the Government of India and the lack of democratic freedoms in the Pakistan administered areas of Kashmir, and iii) inter-regional linkages among the various sub-regions of undivided J&K. Click to continue…